How much do you know about Jesus and the Bible?

02/03/09 | Posted by ellen

In the last couple of weeks there has been some comment in the media about the possibility that we in Britain are lacking the bible basics to make sense of our literary heritage. I was wondering if re:jesus readers share this view?

 bible quiz

Last week the poet laureate, Andrew Motion, told radio 4 listeners and Guardian readers that we should teach the bible as great stories referring to it as an “essential piece of cultural luggage”. Now, I agree with the sentiment but happen to feel that the bible is slightly more than a depository of history or culture. For me the bible tells the story of God’s relationship with people and it is the essential reading for anyone who wants to make sense of the purpose of people in relation to God’s creation.

Whether you see Jesus as a cultural icon, a historical figure, a great teacher or the Son of God he has played a crucial role in the story of God as outlined in the bible. Wanting to find out more about this story, delving into the background of the characters – like Noah, Job, Ruth, Moses, John the Baptist, the disciples, Paul and the early Christian church leaders – provides insight into how people have formed relationships with God.

I agree with Andrew Motion that humanity would benefit from reading the bible but not just ‘for art’s sake’. Reading the bible puts people in relationship with God, helps us to see how we are part of God’s plan and are loved for who we are and not just for what we achieve. Jesus was a great advocate for the scriptures (John 7.15-19)  - though of course he was talking about the Hebrew bible or what we refer to as the Old Testament – Jesus depended on the scriptures and often quoted from them. The story of Jesus in the New Testament of the bible is the basis on which we continue to develop our faith today.

So, I wonder if you think the bible is important today and why?

If you want to test your bible knowledge then do take a look at the Guardian bible quiz…
If you have a load of questions about Jesus and don’t know where to start to find out the answers then take a look at the re:jesus frequently asked questions  (but do the quiz first or you’ll know all the answers!!!).

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